Blackline devices are built for tough jobs—gas detection, lone worker monitoring, real-time emergency response.
But every now and then, they’re used in ways even we didn’t expect.
How do you assess flammable gas levels in high-risk environments without sending anyone in first? If you’re Southern Manatee Fire Rescue (SMFR), you get creative.
SMFR mounted a G7c to a drone, allowing them to perform flammable gas detection remotely. Their G7c was equipped with a PID (photoionization detector) sensor and a built-in pump to actively sample the ambient air.
To test the setup, SMFR flew the drone into diesel exhaust from a fire truck. The G7c instantly triggered a high sensor reading alert while live streaming gas readings, GPS data, and sensor information in real time.
We didn’t design G7 to be strapped to a drone.
But adapting it for remote detection gave SMFR exactly what they needed: a way to assess potential hazards without putting anyone at risk.
Construction was underway at Yara’s Siilinjärvi plant in Finland when an EXO area monitor detected a major ammonia gas leak in an unexpected area. This raised a broader concern: were other undetected gas leaks still out there?
To scout for potential gas hazards without endangering lives, Yara’s team also took a creative drone approach. From the air, a G7c streamed real-time gas readings and GPS data through Blackline Live.
It’s a perfect example of combining area monitors with portable gas detectors to safely identify potential hazards.
Whether on the ground or from the air, Blackline technology protects workers wherever risk exists.
On October 19, 2024, an explosion in Bedford, U.K., killed two people and forced more than 50 families to evacuate their homes. The blast, believed to be related to an underground gas leak, left locals shaken. Even after the immediate danger passed, methane was still being detected in the area. Officials and residents weren’t sure whether it was truly safe to return home.
That’s when the Bedford Borough Council contacted a Blackline Safety Channel partner with an unusual request: could our portable gas detectors, normally worn by workers in industrial environments, be adapted for use in people’s homes?
Within days, we’d shipped 83 G7 devices to homes across the affected area. The devices were installed inside each home to monitor for toxic or flammable gases and automatically alert residents if levels changed. Unlike traditional fixed monitors, G7 streams live data in real time to local authorities, enabling a rapid, coordinated response to gas hazards.
We don’t typically deploy our devices in residential settings, but the fundamentals stayed the same: real-time data, reliable alerts, and immediate response when it mattered most.
Most importantly, our technology helped give a shaken community the confidence to come home—safely.
Smart Safety in Small Spaces
The G6 is a wearable gas detector—but one company turned it into a fixed safety system inside their mobile units.
Firefighting gear doesn’t just get dirty—it can be dangerous. Smoke, chemicals, and biological hazards can cling to gear long after the fire is out, posing serious long-term health risks. That’s why firefighters’ PPE needs more than a wash—it needs full decontamination.
That’s where Redline Gear Cleaning comes in. Their Mobile Extraction Units (MEUs) travel across 17 U.S. states, offering on-site cleaning with propane-powered extractors, dryers, and water heaters.
But when propane runs low, these systems can emit higher levels of carbon monoxide (CO)—an invisible risk to crews inside.
Because Redline’s units are always on the move, they needed a portable solution that could provide wireless alerts from anywhere—something beyond the capabilities of traditional beep-and-flash monitors.
To protect its staff, Redline worked with a Blackline channel partner to install G6 single-gas CO detectors in all 11 MEUs. Normally worn by workers, each G6 was adapted for stationary use—mounted inside the units to continuously monitor air quality.
Through the Blackline Live platform, Redline gets real-time gas readings, GPS location, and alert status across the fleet. If CO levels spike, the system instantly notifies the team.
Bonus: since CO levels rise as propane tanks run low, the data also helps crews know when to refill—avoiding mid-job delays and keeping operations smooth.
Redline didn’t just protect its team. It turned every mobile unit into a smarter, safer workspace.
These aren’t everyday applications of Blackline technology—and that’s the point.
Our devices aren’t just safety tools. In the right hands, they’re problem-solvers.
And while we support unconventional use cases, it’s critical they don’t compromise our devices' ability to do what they're designed for—keeping people safe.